Feeling a Draft

2014-05-12 12:00:00

A full Texas-based recap of the NFL Draft.

By Greg Tepper DCTF Managing Editor

Here at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the NFL Draft is an especially meaningful event. Because of how we’re structured – covering high school football, recruiting, college football and pro football in Texas – the players taken in the Draft are often guys that we’ve been watching for years, who have appeared in our magazine and on our site long before having their name called at Radio City Music Hall.

That’s part of why we watch the Draft with such interest – we cover football in Texas, and as always, Texas has a lot to say about the NFL Draft.

And the 2014 NFL Draft was no different, as there were plenty of Texas connections that were selected to play in the pros – plus, of course, the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys’ selections.

Without further ado, DCTF’s all-encompassing Texas NFL Draft review.

First Round

No. 1, Houston Texans: DE Jadeveon Clowney, South CarolinaThe Texans have said for a while that they want to take the best player available with the No. 1 overall pick, and it’s hard to argue against the menacing Clowney.

No. 6, Atlanta Falcons: OL Jake Matthews, Texas A&M (Fort Bend Elkins HS)Both the first Texas college player and the first Texas high school product came off the board when Matthews went to the Falcons, following in the footsteps of his father, Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews.

No. 7, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M (Galveston Ball)It was back-to-back Aggies and back-to-back Texas high schoolers, as the Bucs took the outstanding wide receiver from Galveston by way of College Station.

No. 8, Cleveland Browns: CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (Huntsville)The Browns traded up to get the Huntsville product, who dazzled both defensively and on special teams for Oklahoma State.

No. 16, Dallas Cowboys: OL Zack Martin, Notre DameThere were rumblings that the Cowboys could take Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel with this pick, but Dallas went with the more conservative pick by nabbing Martin, a sensational lineman with great pedigree.

No. 22, Cleveland Browns: QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (Kerrville Tivy)Johnny Football’s draft slide finally ended when Cleveland traded up again to grab Manziel, making him the face of the franchise and an instant favorite in the CLE.

No. 25, San Diego Chargers: CB Jason Verrett, TCUDCTF’s pick for the Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 went to the SuperChargers, where it’s easy to see him following in the footsteps of Quentin Jammer.

Second Round

No. 33, Houston Texans: OL Xavier Su’a-Filo, UCLAWhile many speculated that the Texans would use this pick on a quarterback, they instead went with Su’a-Filo, who shined on the Bruins’ offensive line.

No. 34, Dallas Cowboys: DE Demarcus Lawrence, Boise StateThe Cowboys needed someone up font defensively to help replace DeMarcus Ware, and they think they found him in Lawrence, who was equal parts sensational and troubled at Boise State.

No. 36, Oakland Raiders: QB Derek Carr, Fresno State (Fort Bend Clements)You may not remember, but Carr started at Clements before transferring to California for his senior year. He dazzled at Fresno State, and now he won’t go far for his pro career, shifting just south to Oakland.

No. 43, New York Giants: OL Weston Richburg, Colorado State (Bushland)The big boy from Bushland was the next up on the Texas high school football parade, heading to the Cowboys’ division rival.

No. 49, New York Jets: TE Jace Amaro, Texas Tech (San Antonio MacArthur)After a breakout junior season with the Red Raiders, the MacArthur product went in the second round to the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.

Third Round

No. 65, Houston Texans: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, IowaAnd still, the Texans waited to take a quarterback, instead picking Fiedorowicz, who logged at least one catch in 31 consecutive games at Iowa.

No. 69, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Charles Sims, West Virginia (Hou. Westbury)A man with more than one Texas connection, Sims played for three years at Houston after shining at Westbury, then transferred to West Virginia for his final year of eligibility. Now, he’s heading to Florida.

No. 76, Detroit Lions: OL Travis Swanson, Arkansas (Kingwood)A stalwart on the Arkansas offensive line for years, the Kingwood product is heading to Detroit to help protect fellow Texas high school product QB Matt Stafford.

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